Helene: Here We Go Again (2025)

[OP]Contributor

Helene is only a tropical storm right now with peak winds of 45 mph but heading right this way and already we're hearing "Category 3 hurricane" for Thursday evening. I just got back from trying to fill up the generator gas cans with ethanol-free. The only station for miles around which sells it was out but packed with people who didn't know that yet, including me. Went to our usual gas station for a few gallons of the regular stuff and it was almost brutal getting in there. Grocery shopping next.

Hurricane Debbie took out 2 major trees on the east side of the house and we cut down the only other large one threatening from there. With the thousands of dollars of other tree removal work we've done over the years, I hope we're relatively secure.

The 4 x 5 foot picture windows in our newly-enclosed porch (a major remodel story for some other time) took a beating from flying tree limbs last time. This time I'm bolting plywood panels over them. Also getting out on the porch roof to cover the upstairs windows. My wife thought I was a real stud the last time I did it, over 5 years ago. Now the idea just scares her.

We just today switched the landline house phone and our antiquated DSL internet over to T-Mobile 5G. Didn't do it specifically for this storm but I'm hoping for better reliability. The increased speed is mind-blowing: 750 mbps vs 17 download.

More later, if there's anything to say and we have an internet connection.

Contributor

Good luck, Alan. We're hoping for just a glancing blow here in Tampa Bay. Storm surge will get our attention. They say 5-8 feet. Have to check the timing of the tides. Sounds like it will be Cat 3 or so when it makes landfall, so it's certainly got our attention.

House is very elevated and hurricane proof windows, but we take this all seriously. Now if Tesla can just get around to providing the hardware for a Cybertruck to power your house, and I'll get one. Without that, I can wait.

Contributor

I'm confused about the generator fuel issue. Here in 2024, all gasoline is unleaded. Do generators require some special type of gasoline?

Hang tough!

[OP]Contributor

Originally Posted by Pat Germain

I'm confused about the generator fuel issue. Here in 2024, all gasoline is unleaded. Do generators require some special type of gasoline?

Hang tough!

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I mispoke. Ethanol-free.

I hear that gas station has filled their tanks and I'm going to try again in the morning. Just spent 15 really annoying minutes emptying a 5-gallon can into the generator while fighting with the safety nozzle. Had to go on-line to find out how to make the gas come out. Spilled a dangerous amount of gas leaking from the valve which flexed against the generator fill opening while being supported poorly by my 84-year-old arms while trying to squeeze the stupid release with one hand to get something to come out.

Just got a hurricane warning followed by a storm surge warning from National Weather Service. Loud warning tone on a cell phone same as for an Amber alert, followed by loud audio warning message. 3 cell phones so 3 times. We're 130 feet about sea level (that's high altitude in Florida) and not too worried but some people are a lot more vulnerable.

Contributor

On gas can spouts: I have these:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/135070132959 edited to add: the seller makes them and takes the ad down when he's out. It's down right now. The spout is a heavy rubber fuel line with a machined aluminum stopper, and a machined alluminum piece that the hose fits into and uses the stock gasket and cap ring.

With these vents:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/154486859314

I like the Midwest cans the best, and they have the best cap seal that goes onto the machined aluminum part. Haven't spilled a drop of gas since using these for some years now.

I don't have as many of those spouts as I have cans, so some get these:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/186500757226

The "leakproof" fiddly different things that come on them are really slow as well, so get tossed first thing. The Midwest cans have two handles that makes it fairly easy to manipulate them. The flexible heavy duty rubber spouts are long enough to put it in the filler opening before you lift the can to put the gas in as fast as you like to. I've used smaller vents, but tried one of these larger ones and switched out all the small tire valve types. The plastic snap in vents leak, so those all left long ago.

So far haven't been bothered by the gas can police.

Contributor

I used to chase around for ethanol-free gas to store for my generator but now I just get the regular gas and add Sta-bil 360 which apparently treats the ethanol issues. So far, so good.

Contributor

Originally Posted by Bill Howatt

I used to chase around for ethanol-free gas to store for my generator but now I just get the regular gas and add Sta-bil 360 which apparently treats the ethanol issues. So far, so good.

Yeah, the issues about "Ethanol!" are greatly exaggerated. I have a carbureted 1970 Mustang. All I put in it is 10% ethanol fuel. Never had a problem. Dollars to doughnuts, any modern generator is designed to run an ethanol blend. However, I suppose there could be generators which demand 100% gasoline only.

Contributor

Does it have 1970 fuel lines on it? If you live near a large body of water and have rubber fuel lines you’re guaranteed to have trouble with ethanol in gas.

[OP]Contributor

My generator says it's OK with ethanol but I'm assuming it's even more OK without it. One of my 5-gallon containers is filled with ethanol gas and I'm not worried about using it, but it won't be my first choice.

Contributor

The fuel lines are mostly metal. I did use modern fuel injection hoses where necessary.

Contributor

I run ethanol gas in my generators. Rotate fuel out four times per year, and run it in vehicles. Always shut down generator by shutting of fuel, and letting it run dry. To my fuel when I purchase it, I add Stratron. Some times, I add Mechanic in a Bottle to fuel when generator is being used. If you add a pulse operated fuel pump to generator, it can pick up fuel directly from fuel cans. Pump uses pulses from breather to operate the diaphram. I have a quick connect in fuel line on generator that matches the one I drop in fuel cans. Actually don't just drop it into fuel cans, as I have a modified fuel can cap the has hose section run through it.

Contributor

I’ve been told by 3 different small engine shops to only run ethanol free. I’ve got a few friends who also run it in outboard motors. I have a four stroke the manual says ethanol gas is Ok but I follow my friends advice and run ethanol free.

Re: Helene, I live in NE FL all my life from the early 60’s to about the 2000’s we had one or two hurricanes. We’ve had either glancing blows or hard hits 5x in the last 10 years.

It goes in cycles. This year has actually been mild, but when you’re in the bullseye it doesn’t matter.

Still stressful.

Contributor

Originally Posted by Robert Engel

Re: Helene, I live in NE FL all my life from the early 60’s to about the 2000’s we had one or two hurricanes. We’ve had either glancing blows or hard hits 5x in the last 10 years.

It goes in cycles. This year has actually been mild, but when you’re in the bullseye it doesn’t matter.

Still stressful.

Yeah, the day after they announced on the news that this year was the longest stretch without a named storm in history, this one formed. Jinxed us? I think yes.

Contributor

Wishing everyone in harm's way the best of luck!!

[OP]Contributor

As I said re hufficane Debbie: this is a PITA. Unlike Debbie, which was a category 1, Helene is now forecast to be a Category 4. The forecast track is just slightly west of us, which puts us on the side with the strongest winds. Not much to say right now. I'll talk about it when it's over (which should be Friday morning) and we have internet service again.

Putting plywood over the new big windows on the porch we just enclosed. I hated running screws into the new Hardie Board window trim (hasn't even been painted yet) but I don't have a better way to do this:
PXL_20240925_165751035r.jpg